Job Description

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Dear Candidate

Thank you for your interest in this post. The Hawthorns School opened its doors in January 2023, for autistic children and is based in a beautiful brand new purpose-built building. We have recently expanded into our new satellite provision; Hawthorns Connect; a specialist provision for young people with Autism and Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA).

An exciting opportunity has arisen to add a School Driver to our team who will provide safe, reliable and supportive transport for pupils attending Hawthorns Connect and play a key role in helping pupils access education by reducing barriers to attendance and ensuring journeys are calm, structured and anxiety-sensitive.
Are you someone who can help us do that?

• Are you thoughtful, compassionate and reflective and a team player?
• Do you want to support pupils to engage, learn and achieve?
• Do you share our ethos of kindness, curiosity, integrity and participation?
• Do you have bags of energy and are you someone who thinks, watches and listens, but also takes initiative?
• Do you have an interest in, or experience of, working or living with autistic young people?

If so, then you could be the resilient and collaborative person who needs to join our school community. We work hard, have a desire to learn, are adaptable and have a 'can do' attitude. If you are someone who embraces a challenge and has a sense of humour we would love to hear from you.

In return, we can offer you professional fulfilment and development, care and attention to wellbeing, a lot of fun and a brilliant and supportive team to work with.

The Hawthorns is one of a community of Special Schools, supported by the well-established and highly regarded SEAX Trust. The Trust respects and trusts each school to evolve its unique identity, whilst providing layers of support and networking at all professional levels. Do consider joining us in achieving our goals. At least come and see us - you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Best wishes
Hayley Kersey
Headteacher

Information about the School

The Hawthorns School opened its doors in January 2023 for children with autism. We are now in our beautiful purpose-built school in the heart of Chelmsford and are extending our provision for KS3 and KS4 pupils.

The provision at the school caters for pupils who have a diagnosis of autism and offers a full-time education with a focus on social communication, emotional regulation and relationship-building while, at the same time, offering a broad and balanced range of curriculum subjects, including literacy and numeracy.

Pupils will be aged 7-16 and will have an EHCP. There will be ten residential places available for pupils from Monday to Thursday each school week. These will be managed by the school and will enhance the day curriculum offer.

We have established a school which embodies the ethos, vision and values of the SEAX Trust and the other schools in the Trust (Thriftwood School & College, Langham Oaks School, Grove House School and Kingswode Hoe School).

The Hawthorns’ mission:

Our mission is to provide a personalised and imaginative curriculum designed to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding to build the basis for a purposeful and fulfilling adult life for young people with autism. Through outstanding teaching and secure relationships, pupils will gain the confidence to communicate effectively, acquire appropriate accreditation for next steps forward, learn core skills for life, develop healthy relationships, self-advocate, contribute to their community and keep themselves safe.